Mayor David Skaith takes to the streets of York to hear residents’ views on funding for police and fire and rescue services.

In his recent consultation to inform the Police and Crime, and Fire and Rescue Plans, people said they wanted our police service to focus on a range of issues including neighbourhood policing, violence against women and girls and early intervention.

People also said they wanted to address underinvestment in North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to modernise and improve fire stations and equipment, and to ensure the Service can prevent and respond to new and increasing risks, such as those related to climate change.

Supporting an increase of 29 pence per week for our FIRE service (Band D property) would raise around £4.7 million, allowing the Service to maintain the current delivery of services and make some improvements. For example, it would help fund crucial upgrades to fire stations, enhance firefighter safety and welfare with better equipment and training, and reduce debt, making the fire service more stable and financially secure.

Supporting an increase of 27 pence per week for our POLICE service (Band D property) would raise around £4.4 million, matching the organisation’s inflationary pressures. Current levels of service delivery would be maintained and it would hopefully allow some investment. For example, in neighbourhood policing, early intervention and prevention activities and tackling violence against women and girls.

Before setting the levels of precept for each emergency service for 2025-2026, the Mayor would like to hear the views of residents across York and North Yorkshire. He will then make his budget proposals to the Police, Fire and Crime Panel in February 2025.

The survey is open until Monday 20 January.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire said:

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in our region, whether they are at home, work, or in public. It is my priority to provide safe places for all in York and North Yorkshire. This includes providing emergency services that can keep everyone who lives here, works here or visits us, safe and feeling safe.

“One of my roles is to set the precepts for both North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

“Balancing the budgets against rising costs and underinvestment, especially in our fire service, has led to challenging times. Asking for more investment to develop and maintain our services is never a task taken lightly.

“It is vital that I hear your views, before I make any decision.  So please take a few minutes and go to YourPoliceAndFire.com and tell me what you think.”

Throughout this consultation, members from the Office for Policing, Fire, Crime and Commissioning will be visiting communities across York and North Yorkshire to hear their views. Early next year the Mayor, and Deputy Mayor for Policing Fire and Crime, Jo Coles, will be visiting Selby and Filey to hear residents’ views.

More information about the consultation is available online, here: https://bit.ly/Precepts25-26